Knicks notes: Amar'e more comfortable in second game back

More comfortable

Amar’e Stoudemire looked exponentially more comfortable in his second game back after missing the season’s first 30 games due to a ruptured cyst in his left knee that required surgery Oct. 31.

He had 10 points and two rebounds on 4-of-10 shooting in 20:57 against the Spurs. Stoudemire replaced Marcus Camby to a loud ovation with 6:30 left in the first quarter and seemed more at ease running the pick-and-roll with Carmelo Anthony in the second half.

"It was better," Stoudemire said. "I was definitely more comfortable defensively after watching so much film. Offensively, it’s going to come. That’s going to come with repetition.

"I played 20 minutes today, which is four minutes more than I played last game," Stoudemire added. "I got a little bit tired out there. I feel that I’m in better shape than I thought I would be at this point."

Plus, his teammates are looking to get Stoudemire involved.

"I thought he played an excellent game tonight," Tyson Chandler said. "Not only in the offensive game and finishing, he did a lot better defensively."

Woodson sidesteps

Knicks coach Mike Woodson responded only with platitudes when asked about Stoudemire’s comment Wednesday that "I’ve never been taught defense my whole career."

Since Mike D’Antoni coached Stoudemire for most of his NBA career, it only furthered his all-offense, no-defense reputation.

"I’m not going there," Woodson said. "I think Mike D’Antoni is a great coach and he does a lot of wonderful things on both ends of the floor."

Ouch

The Spurs’ Stephen Jackson left the game late in the first quarter with an ankle issue after stumbling backward following a three-point try and tripping over a waitress working celebrity row near New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.